Samuel j



SAMUEL J. SEELY. 0F yNew YORK, N. Y.

snor-Prine.

To all @07mm it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL SEELY; of the city, county, and State ofNew)York have invented a Shot-Plug yfor Stopping Leaks in Ships Caused by Shot from the Enemy During an Engagement. which is described as follows, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a view of the plug contracted and ready to be forced through the shot hole from the inside of the ship,r to be then expanded and brought overthe hole in the manner represented in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 to exclude the water. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of a ship pierced with, a shot below the water line and the leak stopped by my improved plug which is represented on a small scale as forced through from the inside, expanded, and made fast by a buckler. screw and wrench. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the shot plug as expanded ready to be forced back against the side of the vessel. Fig. 4 is a view of the outside of the shot plug in its expanded position the radial hinged springs to which the cloth is secured, being represented on the outside of the cloth, the conical head being removed from the center in order to show the manner of jointing .the springs to the ring. Fig. 5 is a plan of the' ring plate detached from the shaft. Fig. 6 is a plan ofthe under side of the conical head showing the recess in the same to receivev circular plate and jointed ends of the springs.

Similar letters in the several figures refer to corresponding parts.

The nature of my invention consistsin the formation of a 9 shotplug 4by which 'a leak caused by a shot from van enemy at any depth below the water line can be effectually stopped in a few seconds from the inside of the vessel said improved shot plug being used as a substitute for the ordinary frustrum of a cone plug which" is suspended over theside of the ship and'applied to the stopping of a leak when near the water line by lowering a man into the sea who inserts the plug and drives it into the shot hole as well as he is able and as quick as possible being all the time exposed to the aim of the sharp shooters in the round top of the enemys ship: or as asubstitute for the common jackass, or bag of oakum7 which is forced into the shot hole from the outside of the ship. Both modes tere'd 'and irregularly formed hole made by e large shot striking the vessel Aololque'ly and when inserted allowing the "water' to enterl and retarding the motion of Ithe ship byfreason of its projecting'` several feet belyond'the side3 thereof. `Whe`ii the shot hole is much below the surface ofkthe water the 'conical' plug cannot be inserted from the outside the hole being inaccessable to the carpenter who is lowered over the side of the ship. And when inserted from the ineiele 'will net step the ent-renee -ef the waterI on account of theplug (which is conical) notffitting the irregularitiesof the shot hole whichis always muchv splintered on the inside. The s'amefobjection `applies to the use ofthe jackass f My jshotl plug is notV liable t0 any of the yaboye name'dobjections and stops the leak effectuallyv in a few` seconds and needs no altera-` not retard her motion but veryslightly, and the pressure ofthe water agairrstl the head,4 springs, the' fea'rnaught serving to' close Vthe latter more eectuallyas a flap valve overI the shot' hole'and -most'eifectually to Vemiljudea the 'water and 'being held securely by buckler and. screw on the inside of the ship ,sol that is can b'e tightened at pleasure, requiring onlyv one .in each wingv of the ship Whereas by they use of the conical plug the whole force of the carpentersf crew is` required to attend to' the plugs and pumps,'y

during an action. y

' A 1s the center plate or ring made circ'u'f jlarorina'njrsided,y of ivrol'ior any suitable l tion, or attentionjan'd when the'ship arrivesv in dock it can vbe removed ina few moments' l and duringvvthe sailing 4ofthe vesselY does` material to which a number of springs are V kattached having an opening in its center to admit ashaft over which said plate or ring is slipped and securedby ahead and shoulder on said shaft. Y

B are ten or more slightly curved radial springs about vseven or eight inches in im length hinged to the central plate made Hat f and slightly tapered and widened out- `;uri-"E13srArEs PATENT oFFicE-. f

hole perforated in the center for the shaft to `pass through and secured to the springs in any suitable and eectual way.

D is the central cylindrical shaft which is passed through the center of the fearnaught valve and circular plate, to which the springs are hinged and screwed into the conical head. This shaft is made of iron about two feet long and about 2 or inch in diameter having a screw cut on each end-fone of the screws being designed to be screwed into the head and the other to receive the wrench by which the shaft is drawn inward through the buckler. It is reduced in diameter forming a shoulder or collar D for the plate to rest on that carries the springs. This collar may be-of greater diameter than the main body of the shaft as represented at D in Fig. 3. The fearnaught and washer being placed between the plate A and collar D.

E is a sliding tube with a beveled flange E for expanding the fearnaught valve. This tube is made of copper or other material about 8 or 9 inches in length and a little larger in diameter than the shaft over which it slides back and forth between the fearnaught and buckler. The flange or: circular plate E for expanding the fearnaught and,

springs is formed around the end of the tube next the fearnaught and is made of a diameter sufficient to accomplish the intended purpose.

F is the conical head into which the outer end of the shaft is screwed. It is made of cast iron in the shape of a cone or otherpanded as represented in Fig. 3 said shouldr being made slightly beveling on the outer e ge. Y

Gr is the buckler made of a piece of cord wood, broken bar, studding lsail yard or other article of the like nature which may be conveniently at hand pierced with an inch auger hole through the center for the insertion of the shaft.

H is the Wrench or nut screwed on-the inner end of the shaft and against the buckler for drawing the fearnaught when expanded against the side of the vessel. It has one or more handles by which it is turned by the carpenter, or other person. j,

The plate to which the springs are hinged or jointed may be made octagonal or polygonal let into a recess in a plate or head of any required form havingasquare or polygonal shaped piece of fearnaught attached to the springs for closingthe lower gun deck ports of a line of battle ships when shot away by the enemy or rendered useless from any cause or for covering` any large sized hole made in the vessel.

The conical head should be pointed and ,made heavy enough to open a way through the splinters for the 'passage of the springs and fearnaught when the particles or fibers of `wood close in toward the center of the opening after the passage of the ball through the planking.

A joint may be formed in the shaft near the shoulder, or in any suitable place, so that lit will accommodate itself to an oblique hole enemy during an engagement, or by a snag or from any cause whatever, whether the plugbe made preciselyfin the manner above described or in any` other mode or manner which shall be substantially the same.

In testimony whereof IV have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing Witnesses this eleventh day of March 1848.

SAML. J. SEELY.

WVM. P. ELLIOT, A. H. JOHNSON. 

